Open Boat: Men Reflect On Nature Essay, Research Paper

Nature is seen as indifferent and uncaring. This goes along with the idea that nature is personified. It is thought to have actions of animate objects in the story and there is an attitude that the men attribute to nature that correlates with it. There are frequent mentions that nature is

uncaring, indifferent and that the trials of one person do not matter in the overall view of the universe. To the men, their situation on the boat leads them to believe in this attitude. The waves slap against the small dinghy relentlessly despite the worries or pleas of the men involved. This makes the men reflect on nature as having a disposition. It occurs to the men that “nature does not regard [them] as important” (409) which, of course, angers them. Despite the terror and desperation the men felt nature remained “indifferent, flatly indifferent” (412). By demonstrating that nature, as depicted by Stephen Crane, has an attitude, the impression of nature as a main character is greatly increased.

In conclusion, The Open Boat portrays nature as a main character in the story. Many devices are used to culminate this interpretation. Through the many descriptions of nature as a causation of the action and as a constant force, it is easily interpreted as a primary persona in the story. The attitude and indifference of nature, as expressed by the sailors, greatly aids in developing nature as a crucial character in the short story.